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Archive for the ‘Historic’ Category
Monday, November 21st, 2011
It North Lake Tahoe it seems that downhill ski and board resorts rule, especially with more than a dozen to choose from. What locals know is that cross country resorts are nearly as numerous as their steeper counterparts, and just as legendary.
 - Credit: Jeff Dow
Did you know that the region boasts the largest cross country resort in the country – Royal Gorge? Just minutes off Interstate 80 and atop of the world on snowy Donner Summit, Royal Gorge Cross Country Ski Resort has 320km (that’s approximately 200 miles) of groomed tracks and trails along with two rustic, Old Tahoe lodging properties, the ski-in, ski-out Ice Lakes Lodge and the quaint Rainbow Lodge.
Looking for something a little more, well, competitive? Squaw Valley may have hosted the majority of the 1960 Winter Olympic events, but the cross-country races, including the popular biathlon, were actually held on Tahoe’s West Shore at Sugar Pine Point State Park. There Nordic enthusiasts choose from four distinct, well-marked trails, making up 15km of terrain. The park is also home to historic Ehrman Mansion.
Another great spot to check out, and a locals’ favorite, is Tahoe XC which is just behind Tahoe City’s commercial core with 65km of groomed trails, a day lodge and café. A great all-around resort, well-mannered dogs can join their humans on either of two dog-friendly trails, and there’s more than eight km of beginner and intermediate terrain. Dog day passes are $4 and season passes are just $49. Tahoe XC is also the start of the prestigious Great Ski Race, now in its 36th year. Slated for March 4, 2012, competitors race 30 km from the resort to Truckee.
If you want to mix it with the locals more check out Spooner Lake Cross Country Ski Area located on the North Shore at the junction of Highway 28 and 50. There are 80km of groomed ski trails spread out over a scenic 9,000 acres. Spooner Lake also rents their remote, cozy log cabins in Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park for those interested in a multi-day cross-country or snowshoe adventure.
Still looking for more? Here are some other great places to check out:
North Tahoe Regional Park, Tahoe Vista: Great for beginners with 5km of groomed trails and family play area with pay parking
Northstar California, Tahoe Donner Ski Resort and Granlibakken Resort: All paired up with downhill resorts if you’re traveling in “mixed company”. Northstar’s Cross Country Ski and Snowboard Center, located at the base of the resort’s alpine area, has 40km of carefully groomed, picturesque trails. Tahoe Donner Downhill and Cross Country Ski Area in Truckee has 115km of skiable cross-country terrain. Granlibakken Lodge, just outside of Tahoe City on the West Shore and located in a serene valley, has lift access to several miles of Nordic skiing terrain, including charming Page Meadows and access to the famed Tahoe Rim Trail, in addition to its beginner downhill slope.
Resort at Squaw Creek in Olympic Valley: Adjacent to Squaw Valley’s massive downhill area, this luxurious AAA four-diamond resort has 18km of meticulously groomed trails winding through a stunning meadow and hillside. A cool 70% percent of the terrain is geared specifically for beginners.
Get more information about cross-country skiing and rentals in North Lake Tahoe.
Tags: cross country ski, Granlibakken, Great Ski Race, Lake Tahoe, Nordic ski, North Tahoe Regional Park, Northstar California, royal gorge, spooner lake cross country, Tahoe City, tahoe cross country, tahoe donner, Tahoe XC
Posted in eco-friendly, Environment, Family, green travel, Historic, ski, Tahoe City, truckee, winter | No Comments »
Friday, July 8th, 2011
In Tahoe we’re fortunate to have the mother of all hiking trails right in our backyard. The famed Tahoe Rim Trail is a 165-mile dirt path looping around the entire lake, following the ridges that bound the Tahoe Basin. You can backpack it in its entirety in about 14 consecutive days. But if you don’t have that time commitment, check out any of the eight trailheads with trail segments that range from 12 to 33 miles in length, perfect for a weekend trip. Out and back routes are also available for day hikers.
One of the top locals picks is the Mt. Rose Loop Trail off Highway 431. The 5-6 mile roundtrip hike starts at 8,900 feet and tops out at 9,420 feet. You’ll get picturesque views of Lake Tahoe, the largest alpine lake in the country, and a beautiful waterfall. The Tahoe Rim Trail Association, the volunteer-based organization that built and maintains the Tahoe Rim Trail, has a calorie counter on its website if you need a little extra incentive – the Mt. Rose Loop burns approximately 1,422 calories if you take about 3 hours. That beats the treadmill any day!
Speaking of waterfalls, Shirley Canyon in Squaw Valley is one of the best, if not the best, hikes to view spectacular waterfalls. This 4-mile roundtrip trail starts at Squaw Peak Road and follows Shirley Creek up and over boulders, past waterfalls to Shirley Lake. From there, you can turn around and head back or keep hiking up to Squaw Valley USA’s High Camp and take the cable car down for free (along with the family pooch).
There is nothing more rewarding than taking a dip in crystal, clear waters after a strenuous hike. Five Lakes, accessible via Alpine Meadows Road, is popular for this very reason. A 5-mile hike, on a well maintained trail, has a tough uphill that gives way to some of North Lake Tahoe’s most popular swimming holes, five serene alpine lakes.
If you’re traveling with eager toddlers who want out of the car now! check out the family-friendly one-mile trek down to the historic Vikingsholm Castle on the West Shore. Park at the Vikingsholm Castle parking lot on Highway 89 and then take a dirt path down to the castle, which offers daily tours in the summer. It’s also a great spot for a packed picnic and offers up a sandy beach with fantastic views of Fannette Island, Lake Tahoe’s only island, and scenic Emerald Bay. This path is also stroller friendly.
Get more information about hiking in North Lake Tahoe, including when and where to purchase wilderness permits.
Tags: Five Lakes, hiking, Lake Tahoe, mt. rose, Shirley Lake, tahoe, Tahoe Rim Trail, Vikingsholm Castle
Posted in Environment, Family, green travel, hiking, Historic | No Comments »
Thursday, May 6th, 2010
 Summer officially kicks off in North Lake Tahoe Memorial Day Weekend with the 4th Annual Opening Day at the Lake. The five-day special event begins Thursday, May 27 and runs through Monday, May 31, and is comprised of celebrations and festivities primarily along the West Shore.
Opening Day at the Lake events include deck opening celebrations at Sunnyside Resort, Bridgetender Grill and Chamber’s Landing Bar & Restaurant, openings and tours of the historical Vikingsholm Castle and Ehrman Mansion, guided tours of the Tahoe Maritime Museum along with activities for kids, community clean ups, open house at the Rideout Community Center, as well as the Mike Brown Seaplane Splash-In and BBQ.
New this year is the Obexer’s General Store Grand Opening, along with stand-up paddleboard relay races and demonstrations at Sunnyside Resort and Obexer’s Marina. There will also be a special winemaker dinner at Swiss Lakewood Restaurant with wines from John and Lane Giguiere, and a “Launch into Summer” celebration and fundraiser and “History of Seaplanes” lecture series at the Tahoe Maritime Museum.
For more information about Opening Day at the Lake, activities, lodging and special events in North Lake Tahoe visit our website.
Posted in boating, entertainment, Events, Family, Historic, Incline Village, kayak, paddleboard, Sunnyside | No Comments »
Tuesday, October 13th, 2009
North Lake Tahoe as towns and villages pull out all the stops for scary and merry Halloween events starting this week.
This Friday, October 16 the Rocky Horror Dance Party & Costume Contest on the Marina Green at the Boatworks Mall in Tahoe City starts off the festivities beginning at 7 p.m. with the movie showing followed by dancing and costume contest.
Tahoe City’s Harvest Festival is in full swing featuring the Rideout Community Center Pumpkin Patch Saturday, October 17, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with bounce house, dessert walk, hay and pony rides, silly games and pumpkin patch.
Tahoe City merchants are staying open late so children can trick-or-treat down “main street” Saturday, October 31 from 4-6 p.m.
Incline Village’s 2nd Annual Monster Dash is set for Saturday, October 17, 11 a.m. with a 5K fun run that starts in the Upper Village Center. Halloween costumes are encouraged for all runners, walkers and spectators.
The 30th Annual Pumpkin Patch returns to the Incline Village Elementary School Saturday, October 17 with clowns, a bake sale, bounce house and pony rides.
The Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Casino & Spa in Incline Village hosts their first-ever Pumpkin Carving Contest Saturday, October 24, 4-6 p.m., for ages 6 to 12 years, with prizes awarded to the best jack o’ lantern creators.
The first-ever Historic Haunted Tour of Truckee is Wednesday, October 21, with a guided walking tour about the city’s Old West heritage including shootouts and it’s haunted history. The adult only tour includes a glass of wine, live music and a silent auction. Childcare is provided by the KidZone Museum in Truckee with “Professor Higginbody’s Halloween Night Out.” Cost is $10 per child for parents attending the tour and includes gooey pizza and oozy science activities for children 2 years and older. Guided tour tickets are $25 per person.
Spending the witching hours at the Village at Squaw Valley, where travelers can guess the weight of The Giant Pumpkin anytime from Saturday, October 24 through Saturday, October 31, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., with prizes for the closest guess. There’s also a Great Pumpkin Scavenger Hunt during that same week, and trick-or-treating with merchants on Halloween. Both the Auld Dubliner and Le Chamois host Halloween Costume Bashes Saturday, October 31 featuring DJs spinning the tunes.
The Tahoe Maritime Museum on the West Shore gets into the Halloween spirit Thursday, October 29 with Family Night Out starting at 5 p.m. with children’s activities and family-friendly movie. Guests of all sizes are encouraged to wear costumes.
It’s adults only at the Devil’s Night Costume Party with AC/DShe at the Crystal Bay Casino in Crystal Bay Friday, October 30, 10 p.m. Tickets are $23 per person. The rock band Tainted Love gets partiers grooving on Halloween starting at 9 p.m. with the Creepers Ball Costume Party. Tickets are $25 per person.
A complete list of activities is available online.
Tags: activities, entertainment, Events, Halloween
Posted in Cool Deals, Crystal Bay, entertainment, Events, Family, Historic, Incline Village, Tours, truckee | No Comments »
Tuesday, July 28th, 2009
 Tahoe Adventure Company just introduced a new kayak tour that has groups launching at Sand Harbor State Park and then paddling over to the region’s historic Thunderbird Lodge. Arriving at the private beach landing, paddlers then take a walking tour of this 1930’s estate and learn the story of George Whittell, the eccentric man who built it, followed by a fantastic deli spread lunch on the shores of Lake Tahoe. You’ll also find additional tours offered by Tahoe Adventure Company by visiting online.
History and outdoor buffs use their own two feet on a new, guided walking tour of Tahoe City. The North Lake Tahoe Historical Society takes participants from the Gatekeeper’s Museum and along North Lake Tahoe Boulevard to Watson Cabin, which turns 100 this year, and speaks to the stories and legends that characterize this town.
Pack your lunch if you’re headed down the one-mile, steep trail to visit Lake Tahoe’s only castle. Vikingsholm Castle offers a sandy beach perfect for a picnic and a quick dip in the region’s clear, blue waters. Tours are available of this majestic home, built in 1929 and situated at the head of Emerald Bay. Also on the West Shore is Ehrman Mansion, the opulent summer home of a San Francisco businessman and built in 1903.
For details, along with stellar deals on lodging, activities and entertainment, visit our Cool Deals.
Posted in hiking, Historic, kayak | No Comments »
Tuesday, May 12th, 2009
Lake Tahoe is warming up with sunny skies expected all week capping off with a wonderful weekend of mid-70s.
Calling all bird watchers! The Tahoe Center for Environmental Sciences in Incline Village is hosting “Osprey in the Sierra Nevada” Thursday, May 14, 6 p.m. Lisa Fields, an environmental scientist with the Sierra District of California State Parks, discusses the osprey, a fish-eating bird, and those that nest at Donner Lake, Lake Tahoe and Mono Lake. A $5 per person donation is requested.
Dust off your golf clubs. Northstar-at-Tahoe in Truckee opens its driving range Friday, May 15 and all 18 holes on its golf course on May 22 just in time for the Memorial Weekend holiday.
As part of Nevada Historic Preservation month, the Thunderbird Lodge National Historic Site hosts an open house Saturday, May 16 with guided tours of the property including its exclusive 600-foot tunnel. Located just minutes from Incline Village, tours begin at 10 a.m. and advanced registration is required. Cost is $20 per person.
The Spring Paddle (Kayak) Day at Sand Harbor State Park is set for Saturday, May 16. Experience the beautiful, rocky shoreline of Lake Tahoe and have lunch at Sand Harbor afterwards. Cost is $20 per person, lunch included.
The Memorial Day Weekend signals the North Lake Tahoe’s 3rd Annual Opening Day at the Lake. This four-day special event begins Friday, May 22 and runs through Sunday, May 25, and is comprised of celebrations and festivities primarily along the West Shore. Come out for restaurant deck openings, guided museum tours, live jazz and the popular Mike Brown Seaplane Splash-In.
Check out our special event listings for more activities.
Tags: birds, Events, golf, kayak, memorial weekend, Spring, thunderbird, Tours
Posted in Cool Deals, entertainment, Environment, Events, Family, Historic, holiday, Spring, Tours, truckee | No Comments »
Saturday, May 2nd, 2009
Ready for summer? North Lake Tahoe is with its official summer kick off, the 3rd annual Opening Day at the Lake held on Memorial Weekend, May 22-25.
A four-day celebration filled with a variety of events takes place on the West Shore and includes:
· Deck opening celebrations at Sunnyside Resort, West Shore Café and Bridgetender
· Openings and tours of the historical Vikingsholm Castle and Ehrman Mansion
· Guided museum tour of the Tahoe Maritime Museum along with activities for kids
· Live jazz on the deck at the West Shore Café
· Open house and bingo party at the Rideout Community Center
· Olympic Heritage fund-raiser and swing band at Granlibakken Resort
· Dedication for the Olympic Events Museum at Sugar Pine Point State Park
· …and the very popular Mike Brown Seaplane Splash-In and BBQ
Be sure to pick up your event passport and get it stamped (15 stamps minimum) to qualify for numerous prizes and gift certificates such as a one-hour jet ski rental at High Sierra Waterski, $200 savings bond from Bank of the West, two-night stay at Granlibakken Resort, dinner for two at Sunnyside Resort, $35 gift certificate at Tahoe House Bakery, three adult ski lift tickets at Homewood Mountain Resort, Sherman Homes wine basket, bike rentals for four at West Shore Sports and a two-night stay at the historic Chaney House. Winners are drawn June 15 and notified by phone.
Opening Day at the Lake is spearheaded by Lake Tahoe’s West Shore Association.
Tags: entertainment, Historic, holiday, memorial weekend, music, opening day, Prizes, Tours
Posted in Cool Deals, dining, entertainment, Events, Family, Historic, holiday, Tours | No Comments »
Tuesday, April 21st, 2009
Big, blue skies are in store this week with highs in the 50s and 60s equaling perfect weather for exploring North Lake Tahoe and the Sierra’s via foot or bike or ski or board. Although you’ll want to keep your fleece handy as weather forecasts predict a chance of snow for Friday and the weekend.
Catch those last runs of the season at Squaw Valley USA (open until May 10), Sugar Bowl (closing April 26) or Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe (open April 24-26 and May 1-3).
Ready for spring? You know North Lake Tahoe is when Gar Woods Grill & Pier opens its lakeside deck. Come out and celebrate the warm weather with Tahoe’s signature drink – the Wet Woody.
The Squaw Valley Institute hosts A Night of Cowboy Poetry Thursday, April 23, 7 p.m., at the Resort at Squaw Creek in Olympic Valley. Be transported back in time by poetry, music and folklore to experience cattle drives, characters and critters of the Old West. Cost is $10 donation per person.
The Tahoe Center of Environmental Sciences hosts the Undersea Voyager Project at Lake Tahoe with Scott Cassell Thursday, April 23, 5:30-7 p.m. in Incline Village. Cassell embarks on a six-week expedition in the waters of Lake Tahoe starting April 27 through May 31. Find out about plans to investigate the ancient earthquake and tsunami that formed McKinney Bay, search for invasive clam on the lake bottom and explore methods of how to best visualize the clams and associated algal blooms. Cost is $5 per person.
Get a leg up on summer and help save the environment. Tahoe City’s Alpenglow Sports & Chaco Sandals Arbor Day is Thursday, April 23 and Sunday, April 26. Customers purchasing any pair of Chaco sandals or flip-flops will have a tree planted for them in a national park, courtesy of Chaco and the National Arbor Day Foundation.
For more information on cool deals and events, visit online.
Tags: Deals, restaurant, ski, Spring
Posted in Cool Deals, Deals, dining, Environment, Events, Historic, ski, Ski resorts, Spring | No Comments »
Tuesday, March 24th, 2009
$4-million More Needed to Restore Historic Tahoe
LandmarkWith a major gift from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation, Thunderbird Lodge Preservation Society has raised more than half of the money it needs to preserve the George Whittell Thunderbird Lodge National Historic District at Lake Tahoe. Completing the $10‐million campaign will end years of uncertainty as to the fate of Nevada’s only historic house museum estate at Lake Tahoe and permit the Thunderbird Lodge historic site to remain open for public tours in the Preservation Society’s stewardship for generations to come.
“These gifts from the Reynolds Foundation and other donors will form a permanent Preservation Fund to pay for the long‐term care of these historic buildings”, says Bill Watson, Executive Director for the Preservation Society. “Once the capital campaign goal is reached, the Society can turn its attention to exciting new programs like Hands‐on‐History—the Tahoe heritage program for K‐12 schoolchildren.”
Nearly 10,000 visitors tour Thunderbird Lodge each year including students from five counties in Nevada and California.
For more information about the programs of the Thunderbird Lodge Preservation Society visit online.
Tags: Historic, Incline Village, thunderbird
Posted in Historic, Incline Village, Tours | No Comments »
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